New Cheltenham Town midfielder Callum Wright says his relationship with England international James Maddison at his parent club Leicester City has helped with his personal progression.
Wright joined The Robins on loan from Brendan Rodgers’ side in January, and he scored on his Cheltenham debut in a 2-1 victory at Walsall on Tuesday night.
The Foxes loanee’s goal was a low strike of real quality from the edge of the box, and he says his game has been helped by the fact he’s surrounded by world-class players at Leicester.
He said: “It’s a great set up at Leicester with some world-class players. I definitely look up to a player like Maddison and I have a good relationship with him. I can always ask him a question and he’ll look after me. He’s a good fella to learn off on the pitch. He’s a similar type of player to me so it’s easy to learn off him.”
Wright has been at Leicester since 2018, but he’s a proud Liverpudlian having spent part of his early career at Tranmere Rovers and Everton respectively. However, it’s the team on the other side of Stanley Park who he’s supported since he was young, and his biggest footballing inspiration is one of the best players to ever put on the Liverpool shirt.
“I’m from Liverpool and grew up in the same estate as Steven Gerrard grew up. Since I was a little baby I’ve always wanted to play like Gerrard. I’ve always had him on the back of my England and Liverpool shirts. I’ve always looked up to him, as I’m sure most Scousers have done.”
Being from Liverpool and having spent most of his career in the north of England, Wright’s move to sleepy Gloucestershire may have come as a surprise to some. However, the midfielder was immediately attracted to Michael Duff’s high-flying Robins.
“I watched games and clips and I got a feel for the place. I spoke to a few people and I got a feel for how Cheltenham play and what they want to achieve, just in terms of how they play and what the gaffer wants from his midfielders. What he wanted (from a midfielder) was what I do naturally.”
“Straight away you get gut instincts and I knew Cheltenham was going to be the right place for me to develop and grow.”
“I just thought that this is the place for me, and Leicester did too, as did my family and my agent.”
The 20-year-old has never been out on loan before, and therefore this is his first taste of regular men’s football. Despite having only featured in one game, Wright says that he’s already learnt a lot from his time at the club.
“I learnt a lot in the game against Walsall, just about game management and stuff like that. The amount of communication that goes in at this level from the players is completely different to under-23s football. It was just about building confidence. Win your first header, you get a bit of confidence, win your first tackle and you get a bit more confidence.”
The Robins currently sit third in Sky Bet League Two, two points off table-toppers Cambridge United. After the club suffered heartbreak in the play-offs last year, Wright says the goal this year is promotion in any way possible.
“The main goal for me is promotion. Whether that’s winning the league, in the top three or even play-off promotion. That’s obviously the first aim and is it for everybody here.”
“On a personal note, I’m a goalscorer and I want to impact games so I’ve set myself targets in terms of that.”
Cheltenham Town host Bradford City in Sky Bet League Two on Saturday – Kick-off 3pm.
